Those are not MY words, but the words of my son, who gleefully announces at LEAST once a week that I am the “strictest mom in my class”.

The sad part is, he doesn’t seem upset about it so much as he seems to find it hilarious. He has a strict mom. Ha!! So funny.

If we are telling the truth, being a strict mom doesn’t bother me until I am CALLED a strict mom. Then I remember being a kid and having friends that we always said, “her mom is so super strict” and I realize that my little ten year old self never fathomed that I would grow up to be THE STRICT MOM.

Also, my husband is never called a Strict Dad. If that tells you who the good guy is in my house.

Sometimes I envy him, getting to be Mr. Good Time, but mostly I don’t. Because truly, there is no greater satisfaction than watching my husband tell Jon David to do something 5 times, then I walk in and with a point and a LOOK, it’s done immediately.

Don’t get me wrong — we are candy eaters, video game players, loud song singers, and noneducational television watchers. What I am strict about is behavior, manners, laziness, and grades. Because honestly, does a “clean” diet and no television really matter if my child is a slob and a bully? I pick my battles, is all.

Also, Minecraft? Sometimes it’s a pretty awesome babysitter. Mama needs an hour of peace every now and then (sorry. not sorry).

So, I’m thinking we need to make Strict Mom cool.

Maybe something like…”well, you’re grounded for a month, but look!! I made you bars loaded with candy and marshmallow!!”

Can that be a thing?

These bars are absolutely perfect — chewy peanut butter blondies, loaded with Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter chips, and gooey marshmallow. It honestly does NOT get much better!!

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9x13 pan or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.

In the bowl of your mixer, beat butter, peanut butter, and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Stop the mixer to scrape the sides of the bowl before adding the eggs one at a time, beating after each. Scrape the sides of the bowl again.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly add flour mixture until incorporated. Using a wooden spoon, make sure all the flour mixture from the bottom of the bowl is mixed in (batter will be thick). Fold in chips and Reese's Pieces candies.

Spread approximately 2/3 of batter in prepared pan.

With the lid (and packaging seal) removed, microwave the Marshmallow Creme, stirring every 20 seconds, until it's softened and easy to spread. Spoon evenly over batter in pan and spread gently.

Spoon remaining batter over marshmallow, as evenly as possible. Spread a bit, then using a sharp knife, drag through the batter, creating a "swirl". Bake for about 30 minutes, until edges are brown and bars are dark golden all over (some of the marshmallow may puff up and get darker brown than the rest of the batter -- this is okay).

Let bars cool completely. Refrigerate until firm for ease in cutting (this also keeps the marshmallow from oozing out).

Enjoy!!

2.6

The combination of Reese’s Pieces and gooey marshmallow is SO SO GOOD!! Give these a try for sure.

Enjoy and have a great day!!

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Thanks for reading!! I put lots of love into this post, so if you enjoyed it, please leave a comment, share, or subscribe. (As you can probably tell, I'm in constant need of validation, so this keeps me from questioning my self worth and crying into a box of wine) If, by some chance, you didn't enjoy the post, take it up with my personal zombie ninja.

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About Kristan

I’m a proud housewife with a son in the second grade and a sweet baby girl. Like most little boys, my son funny and cute but a little weird. Which only makes me love him more. And the baby? Well...I know she'll sleep eventually.
If I could, I would paint my life pink, sprinkle it with glitter, and give everyone a cupcake.

Im from New England, and Fluffernutters are everywhere. I can’t get enough of them. These bars should be in my mouth right this minute.
Also, I only have a 2 year old & 9 month old..but I hope I can be a ‘strict mom’ eventually. Its HARD work sticking to your guns! You go girl. Manners are everything.

I think dads just get to be the ‘fun’ parent if you are an at-home mom. I also have the title of ‘teacher’ which when added to ‘at-home mom’ makes me about the meanest person in the world! These bars look amazing – thanks for posting them and congratulations on being the ‘strict’ mom :)

Ha! I am a strict mom too! I am constantly embarrassing my oldest by asking for phone numbers and calling parents because um… that’s my job. Manners are crucial. And so are cookie bars full of Fluff and candy. There are awesome!!!

Chris and I tag team being the strict parent..unintentionally, of course.
As long as they have one of you strict at a time you’re good… it’s when you have 2 “good time” parents that things start to go willy nilly.

hehe! I love that you just point and look and JD does something immediately. I think that’s way cool.
I had really strict parents, and then a few years ago, I actually THANKED THEM over a nice dinner for being strict. I realized my friends without strict parents got into tons of trouble (pregnant, didn’t go to school, no life plan), and I was the opposite of that mess. I even told my Dad to his face thanks for giving me my self confidence. They cried. It was AWESOME.
Be strict, your kids will thank you for it over a nice meal they can afford because they went to college and got a good job ;)

I think this has been the best EVER “mom post” in any blog I’ve ever read. It sums me up exactly – I love baking and I am not the healthiest cook on the planet, and I often need them to have a little TV-time, but my kids are well mannered and clean and that’s what matters most to me. People who argue about a time-out in the middle of the grocery store can go fly a kite. My kids know that there are consequences to their actions no matter where we are, so I’m fine being ‘strict mom’ to ‘those nice kids’!

I absolutely love your story about being a “strict mom”. I recently told my adult kids that I didn’t know why they liked me so much when I’m as strict as I am. Their answer, you’re not mean you’re only strict about the rules of the house, ie…chores, grades, manners ect., and those are the things you should be strict on. I suppose I didn’t do too bad if they actually got what I was trying to do :) PS…I also love fluffer nutters and my husbands favorite candy are Resses Piece. Can’t wait to try them :)

[…] Fluffernutter Bars (Confessions of a Cookbook Queen) Peanut butter, marshmallows, peanut butter chips and Reese’s Pieces? If these don’t have my name written all over them, I’m not sure what does! […]

I find NO harm in being a strict mom (to a point of course). My dad always calls my mom “the KoolAid mom” bc she was sugar sweet and kids just knew she was the nice one. That’s just fine and dandy, but totally not my personality. I am pretty strict with the kids I’m helping to raise(nanny)and they still are perfectly happy. Plus, they act like the heavens have opened up when I whip out the mixing bowls :)

Just made these tonight & they are amazing! I cheated and tried a little corner while they were cooled but not refrigerated. The peanut butter part is perfection & I’m not much of a marshmallow fan but I love the combo in this dessert. Yum yummmm!!!

I like you ALOT, I am all about the manners, eating a good dinner but being allowed a pudding afterwards. I have a raise of an eyebrow thing going on with mine. It mostly works. These look lovely can I swap my peanut allergy child for one I will take him back again eventually….